Ok, that just sounds strange so let’s try that again. If this dish were a blanket, it would be one that’s be passed down, worn in to perfection, and so comforting it makes the worst of days better.

It’d be like the blanket I found the other day while rearranging the closet — the one with the loud green and yellow plaid that’s not winning any point for looks but is this heavy flannel-like material that’s the ultimate in warmth. This blanket has been with our family ever since the mid-80s when a generous pint-sized Italian-American woman at the local Catholic church made it for my ailing grandfather. My memories of him always include that blanket draped over his lap just so, like a gentleman would place his suit coat on his lap, except my grandfather was in a wheelchair and forgetting more and more with each day.

That blanket was quickly adopted into the fold in our house so, when I had my invasive knee surgery at 14, it was my source of calm despite weeks of being bed-ridden with a constrictive knee brace and an unending Vicodin drip. Then, that blanket traveled with me to college and kept me warm in those most frigid upstate New York winters, no matter the wind chill or the draftiness of the latest in shoddy houses I was living in. And, so, when I moved to San Francisco that blanket was naturally in tow and still resides in my apartment’s hall closet.

The food equivalent of that blanket is this polenta dish. A basic polenta was one of the first recipes I ever learned when I began futzing around in the kitchen and it has stayed with me through the years, filling in for any meal and topped with whatever I had on hand. In the fall and winter, I’ll top it with braised meats, roasted squash or swirl in wilted greens and gorgonzola; then, come spring, perhaps some fiery harissa roast asparagus and a few crumbles of fresh chevre.

After forgetting about it through the endless scorching summer, like that blanket, I pulled it out of my memory the other day and it’s something that’s so exactly right for this time of year. You know, that in-between season when the weather is all sorts of unpredictable – a breezy morning giving way to a scorching midday or some such combo. So, as the weather continues to be neither here nor there, I’ll continue to start my mornings with this very predictable polenta, which won’t become boring but just ever-more comforting.

Creamy Polenta with Melted Peppers, Mushrooms, and Fried Eggs Recipe

Makes: 4 servings (makes about 3 cups polenta)

Total Time: 40 minutes

Hands-On Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the polenta:

2 cups lowfat milk

1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

3/4 cup stoneground polenta (not instant)

3/4 cup coarsely shredded Parmesan cheese

For the vegetables:

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 pound cremini mushrooms, quartered

Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

1 yellow onion, quartered and thinly sliced

2 bell peppers, cored, stemmed, and thinly sliced

Spinach or baby chard (optional)

For topping (all optional):

4 large eggs

Chives, for garnish

Crème Fraiche, for garnish

Instructions

Combine milk, 1 1/2 cups of water, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. When it simmers, slowly pour in the polenta and whisk to combine. Partially cover with a lid, reduce heat to low, and cook, whisking vigorously (get all the corners of the pan!) every 5 minutes, until polenta is no longer gritty and looks like creamy oatmeal, about 30 minutes total.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the mushrooms and a pinch of salt, some freshly ground black pepper, and stir to coat in the oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and all the liquid is cooked off, about 8 minutes. Remove to a bowl and return the pan to the stove.

Add remaining oil and the onions and stir to coat in the oil. Cook until translucent and soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in the bell peppers, add a big pinch of salt, some freshly ground black pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 15 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of water, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until very soft, about 5 minutes more.

Meanwhile, when the polenta is done cooking, turn off the heat and cover until ready to use. Add the mushrooms back to the pepper mixture, stir to coat, cover, turn off heat, and set aside until ready to use.

If you’re craving an egg, now would be the time to prepare it. (I prefer mine poached or friend for polenta but do what you please.) Just before serving, stir the cheese into the warm polenta. Taste the polenta and check out the consistency. If you like it looser (as I do), whisk in another 1/4 cup of water as needed to loosen the polenta to the consistency of oatmeal.

To serve, divide polenta evenly among four bowls. If using the greens, stir them into the mushrooms mixture until just wilted then spoon over the polenta. Top each bowl with a fried egg, a sprinkling of some chives, and a dollop of crème fraiche and serve.

Well nuts, I saw this 2 minutes after finishing my boring bacon and eggs. Suppose it will have to wait for the weekend. I bet this would be good with a Cincinnati twist of subbing goetta for the polenta.

http://twitter.com/piesandplots Laura Dembowski

What a great story about that blanket! I have a blanket that my mom got from her aunt. It is old and quite thin now, but I love it and will never let it go.

Mushrooms Canada

What a stunning dish! Love the use of Crimini mushrooms in my breakfast and this dish is AHH-MAZ-ING!!

Thanks for sharing…

-Shannon

marla

Love polenta and eggs together ~ reminds me of my trips to the south!

http://twitter.com/AllisonnTweets Allison N

This is a perfect autumn meal!

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

I couldn’t agree more, Allison!

Maria

Such a great dish!

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Thanks, Maria!

http://twitter.com/edibleliving Sarah Copeland

is it okay to want this when it’s only 11:22 AM in NYC? Kinda want it at 11:22 and again at 2:22 and then 5:22. Uh oh.

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Ha, I’m with you on that one!

susan

I love your comparison of this dish to an old blanket. I have a few of those in my arsenal as well. Love the egg on top!

Deliciously Organic

It’s been a long week. Oh how I would love to “cuddle” with a bowl of this!

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